Dragon Scale Appetizer (Print)

Overlapping pepperoni and cheese create a striking dragon scale pattern for easy entertaining.

# What you'll need:

→ Meats

01 - 5 ounces thinly sliced pepperoni

→ Cheese

02 - 5 ounces semi-firm cheese such as provolone, mozzarella, or cheddar, sliced into thin rounds or half-moons

→ Bread Base (optional)

03 - 1 baguette, sliced into ½-inch rounds or gluten-free crackers

→ Garnishes

04 - Fresh basil or parsley leaves (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F if serving warm or to melt cheese slightly.
02 - Place baguette slices or gluten-free crackers on a serving platter or baking sheet.
03 - Starting at one end of each slice or directly on the platter, position a semi-circle of cheese with the straight edge aligned to the base edge. Overlay a slice of pepperoni over the rounded edge of the cheese, layering to mimic overlapping dragon scales.
04 - Continue alternating cheese and pepperoni slices, overlapping each piece slightly, until the base or platter is entirely covered in the scale pattern.
05 - If a warm appetizer is desired, bake assembled pieces for 5 to 7 minutes until cheese is melted and pepperoni edges are slightly crisp.
06 - Add fresh basil or parsley leaves as garnish if desired, and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks fancy enough to impress guests but requires literally no cooking skills or special techniques.
  • You can make it five minutes before serving or prep it ahead, making it perfect for when you're already stressed about hosting.
  • The cheese gets creamy and the pepperoni crisps just slightly if you warm it, but it's equally good cold straight from the fridge.
02 -
  • Cheese needs to be sliced thin enough to bend without breaking, or your whole pattern falls apart; frozen cheese that you thaw slightly is easier to slice cleanly than cold cheese straight from the package.
  • Pepperoni that's room temperature is more flexible and won't crack as you bend it into curves, so pull it out of the fridge a few minutes before you start layering.
03 -
  • A very sharp knife and one smooth cutting motion makes paper-thin slices of cheese without shattering them; serrated knives tend to tear things apart instead of cutting cleanly.
  • If you're serving these to a crowd, assemble them up to an hour ahead and bake just before serving, so the cheese melts at the exact moment your guests arrive hungry and ready to be impressed.
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